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Watches to Watch

Trevor Kyle, head of Jewellery & Watches, makes his specialist selection from the forthcoming Jewellery, Silver, Watches & Wine auction in Edinburgh on 06 December 2018. Trevor has a particular passion for collectible wristwatches, especially the exceptional engineering of pieces by Rolex and IWC.

First up is this wonderful lady's diamond set Reverso watch by Jaeger le Coultre. The Reverso now has a place in watch history as an iconic model. Designed originally in 1931 to satisfy the needs of British Army polo players who needed to know they could wear a watch but still have it protected. The simple swivel design from a hard back to the glazed watch face has now moved on. The 18ct white gold piece on offer here - lot 228 - has diamond set bezels and a day to night face, perfect for a quick day to evening wear switch!

The IWC Portofino Perpetual Calendar is a very refined piece - small in size but with plenty of complications. Not only does this 18ct gold piece - lot 242 - tell the time it also has dials on the face showing the moon phase, day of the week, the date, the month and the year. A well-made model by a a very well-known and respected firm of watchmakers. This model, Ref. 3541, comes in a fitted box with a new phial to replace the year indicator when needed around 2025.

The name Rolex is the first to roll off many lips when talking about fine watchmaking. The company's following by collectors is immense and when something rare appears - in original, un-restored condition - there is always great excitment. Lot 250 has been with the same owner since 1967 when he purchsaed it new, attracted by its unusual colour tones of the brown bezel and face. The rich golden hues of this rare 18ct gold 'Tiger Eye' GMT Master, model 1675, are certain to attract interest from those looking to add a touch of true vintage style to their collection.

And finally something a little but unusual, a polished steel watch by German company Otium. Created in 1999 by German designer Dirk Hillgruber, the Otium brand was designed to present the time in new and innovative ways. Despite the avante-garde approach, Hillgruber’s watches were all produced to the highest quality with Swiss ETA movements in German cases. The face of lot 244 in our next sale has a metallic ground with three small dials for the hours, minutes and seconds, all set in bright polished steel case. This unusual watch comes with its presentation case and booklet - the perfect gift for someone with an eye for engineering!